The unnamed league will hold five events this year, designed
specifically to pit the best professional players against each
other.

Poker has exploded in popularity in recent years and most major
tournaments have been flooded by amateurs willing to pay the
expensive entry fees, or part-timers who won smaller satellite
tournaments.

As a result, the sport's biggest event — the World Series of
Poker — is usually won by amateurs or successful online players,
with little to no live tournament experience. Online winnings
will not be included in the ranking system that will determine
the league's members.

A championship tournament will be held at the Palms Casino, which
is owned by the Maloof brothers, who also own the Sacramento
Kings.